Propeller-shutters.



W. G. RIGGIN PBOPELLER SHUTTEBS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, 1913.

' 1,099,821 Patented June 9,1914,

' COLUMBIA PLANDURAPH (10.. WASHINGTON, B. o.

WALTER C. RIGGIN, OF PORT NORRIS, NEW JERSEY.

PROPELLER-SHUTTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1914.

Application filed December 2, 1913. Serial No. 804,264.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER C. RIGGIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Port Norris, in the county of Cumberland and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Propeller-Shutters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to propeller shutters, the object of the invention being to provide means whereby a screw propeller may be housed completely in an opening or recess in the skeg of a vessel when the latter is being used as a sailing vessel, thereby preventing any resistance on the part of the propeller to the forward movement of the vessel, the said means also adapting the propeller to be uncovered and thoroughly efficient while in operation.

A further object of the invention is to so construct and arrange the shutters as to prevent interference on their eration of the rudder.

The invention also has for its object to provide means for locking the shutters 1n their closed positions and also to arrange the controlling means of said shutters in such manner as to enable them to be moved by and together with the rudder as the latter is swung from side to side.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will hereinafter be more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a side elevation of the stern of a vessel showing the shutter mechanism applied thereto with the shutters thrown open. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the shutters closed. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same with the parts arranged as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view with the arts ar ranged as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 1s a horizontal section on the line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 66 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates the hull or body of a vessel, 2 the skeg, and 3 the rudder, all of said parts being of the usual construction and arrangement.

In carrying out the present invention, the skeg 2 is provided with an opening 4 eX- tending through the same laterally from side to side, said opening being of sufiicient size to receive and house a screw propeller 5.

part with the op At opposite sides of the skeg 2 are shutters6 consisting of plates of sufiicient size to cover the opposite sides of the opening 4 so as to entirely inclose and house in the propeller 5 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6. Each of the shutters 6 is fastened to the lower portion of a substantially vertical shaft or shutter post 7 and these posts extend upwardly through the hull of the vessel in which they are journaled in suitable bearings, additional bearings 8 being provided for the lower extremities of the shutter posts 7, the last named bearings being fastened to the stern post 9. At their opposite ends the shutter posts 7 are preferably squared as shown at 16 to enable a socket or other wrench to be applied thereto for the purpose of turning said shafts to move the shutters from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, and vice versa.

In addition to the squared upper extremities 16 of the shutter posts, sald posts are provided with substantially horizontal arms 11 and when these arms extend rearwardly as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, they are connected by a contractile spring 12 the function of which is to hold the shutters 6 against the opposite sides of the rudder 3 as best shown in Fig. 5 while permitting said shutters to move laterally as they are acted upon by the rudder 3 in its lateral swinging movements. When the shutters 6 are closed as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6, a looking loop or link 13 is slipped over the arms 11 thereby locking said arms against relative movement.

From the foregoing description it will now be understood that when the vessel is under sail, the propeller is entirely inclosed and covered by the shutters 6. When the vessel is to be used under power, the shut ters are swung rearwardly to the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 thereby uncovering the propeller which therefore has a free and unobstructed sweep. If desired the arms 11 may be formed with square holes to fit over the squared extremities 16 of the shutter posts so that said arms may be removed when not required.

What is claimed is 1. A marine vessel having a propellerreceiving opening in the skeg thereof, a propeller contained in said opening, a rudder, a pair of shutters for closing said opening when the propeller is not in operation, means for opening and closing said shutters embodying parallel turn posts to Which said shutters are fastened, arms on said post, and means connecting said arms and operating to lock said shutters closed.

2. A marine vessel having a propeller-receiving opening in the skeg thereof, a propeller contained in said opening, a rudder, a pair of shutters for closing said opening when the propeller is not in operation, and means for holding said shutters yieldingly against said rudder and permitting said shutters to move with said rudder.

3. A marine vessel having a propeller-receiving opening in the skeg thereof, a propeller contained in said opening, a rudder, a pair of shutters for closing and opening when the propeller is not in operation, means for opening and closing said shutters embodying parallel turn posts to which said shutters are fastened, arms on said posts, and a spring connecting said arms.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

WALTER C. RIGGIN. Witnesses J. HAMMITT LAKE, DAVID POWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

